Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-05-27
WOMAN'S REALM
By Mrs. l.. H. BLANK ASSOCIATE Ep1ron
This Ignorant Classea.n


adJournments ofdemocracy. There is no
higher appeal than to the conscience
and intelligence of the human race.
there is no higher object than it's dig
nifty AMI advantage. Democracy has
no antagonists save the enemies Of the
human kind-the ignorant or excessive
tendencies which lead men away from
what is wise and true and temperate, |
1t might be said! If wisdom must gov
ern, the few must govern. Yes; but
they must govern in the Interest of the
many, and in order that they may do
this, the many must have voice in |
choosing them.
But what shall we say Of those who,
having made no careful study of these
great questions, rush into them with a
violent passion, and ignorance of the
great principles that govern, and call
up the spectacle Of an ignorant and
brutal mob as a motive for the denial
OF the most sacred human rights ? l |
confess l am not entirely disinterested
in asking this question. There is a
strong movement to-day that aims at
the crushing of the aspirations of wo-
msnto thefull rights of citizenship. It's
only that, and nothing more. Women
who ask for votes are met by the hue
and cry, Voting by ignorant women
will overthrow society," Voting by
ignorant men has almost done that al
ready. The extension OF the suffrage
for men has been sought both here and
in England, and has been accomplished
by statesman Of particularly philan-
thropic views. They have done this
in the interest Of ignorance, and in Or
der that the ignorant might govern.
These same people, moreover, have
ever shown themselves Jealous for the
promotion of education everywhere.
Is it not evident chat in the extension
Of the suffrage a larger knowledge is
brought into government? And can it
be that those who oppose the extension
Of the suffrage on the ground of giving
power to ignorant classes are those ig-
norant OF the principles embodied in
government under which they live :?
In the name Of common sense and JUS
tice, protest against that general cry
which lays the burden of our social
and political evils upon some supposed
class Of the community given over to
the interests of life upon a low and
brutal plane. Double the ignorant
vote? Rather let US free ourselves from
it altogether" Yes, if we could only
find out where it is. That class which
has often shown its capacity to lead,
is liable to put the immediate gain or
convenience in place of the substantial
advantage and to sacrifice the greater
though more remote good to the nearer
and lesser gain. You will remember
that the wealth and fashion OF Boston
took no stock in the notions of Mr.. Gar
rison and Wendell Phillips. The ques-
ton of the franchise to-day is as vital
a question as any that ever divided the
opinions OF the social world; yet in a
time Of general metamorphosis, we
abide IN our rut, like the Bourbons OF
France, in the account given Of them
by Talleyrand. We forget everything
we should remember. Let us look at
what the change has been. Every male
citizen is now an efficient member OF
the body polite. The relations of wo.
men to men have been wholly changed
But good men say to women, eve can
neither help you nor let you help your
selves" and they profess to do it in the
interests of law, order and good govern
ment.
1-JJA WARN HOWE